Exhibitions, talks, competitions and sky-gazing sessions … These are the kind of events that will be marking the International Year of Astronomy in French Guiana during 2009.

TALKS

The series of free public talks begins on 4 February at 6:30pm in the Jupiter room at the Guiana Space Centre, with the astronomer Jean-Louis HEUDIER who will be reviving Cassini and Richer’s historic experiments in a project entitled “Measuring Earth by Observing the Sky”.  The same presentation will be given in Rémire-Montjoly (town hall auditorium) on 6 February at 6:30pm.  Dr Heudier will also be visiting a number of schools in French Guiana.

Daniel Kunth, astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris (IAP) and initiator of the “Night of the Stars” event in France, is also giving two talks in October.

Françoise Grenand, anthropologist with the national scientific research centre (CNRS) in French Guiana, who has studied Amerindian cosmology will also give a talk at a date to be announced.

Thierry Vallée, Director of Operations at the Guiana Space Centre who is responsible for the 2009 launch of the Herschel and Planck satellites, both ESA scientific missions, will be giving a presentation during April on past and future scientific missions for observing the solar system and the Universe that have been launched from CSG.

THE LAUNCH OF THE HERSCHEL AND PLANCK SATELLLITES

See corresponding page

 
STARGAZING NIGHTS

A stargazing night will be organised in October 2009 in the presence of Daniel Kunth, astrophysicist from the IAP.  Astronomy clubs from five middle and high schools in French Guiana will be joining in, as well as all the amateur astronomers in French Guiana.

COMPETITIONS

For schoolchildren, the “Make your own Solar System” competition will be launched on 3 February.
For the general public, the “Photograph your Sky” competition will be launched in July.

 
BOOKS

The book entitled "Les étoiles à l'oeil nu dans le ciel de Guyane" (“Stars seen with the Naked Eye in the Skies of Guiana”) is being rewritten and republished by the Guyanese Centre for Teaching Resources (CRDP).

A series of works dedicated to astronomy (various school levels) and a travelling exhibition are being distributed to each CRDP unit in French Guiana, so that they can be lent to teachers wishing to cover this theme during the school year.

 
Lastly, public exhibitions, particularly on the solar system, will be held throughout the year to mark this special event.